PART 2
The first officer through the front door introduced himself as Detective Ryan Collins.
He took one slow look around the living room—the black coffin, the grieving relatives, the terrified little girl clinging to my leg—and immediately ordered everyone to remain where they were.
"No one leaves this house until we understand what happened."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
What had been prepared as a funeral became an active death investigation.
Derek shifted nervously beside the staircase.
"I... I just need to use the bathroom."
"You'll wait," Collins replied coldly.
Two uniformed officers positioned themselves beside him.
Meanwhile, another detective approached me.
"You were the husband?"
"Yes."
"When did you last speak with your wife?"
I pulled out my own phone.
"Three nights ago."
"I called her before boarding my flight home."
"She sounded frightened."
"I asked what was wrong."
"She said..." My throat tightened.
"'Come home as soon as you can.'"
"Then the call suddenly disconnected."
The detective wrote every word down.
"Did she ever mention problems with anyone in the family?"
Before I could answer, my mother interrupted.
"She'd been depressed for months."
"She often cried."
"Everyone knew that."
I looked straight at her.
"No."
"My wife wasn't depressed."
"We had plans."
I reached into my travel bag and pulled out the wrapped green silk scarf.
"I bought this for our anniversary."
Then I held up the receipt for the beach resort we'd booked two weeks earlier.
"We were leaving next month."
"People planning their future don't suddenly decide to end their lives."
The room fell silent again.
Detective Collins nodded.
"I'd like to see the bedroom."
"I'll take you."
As we climbed the stairs, Lily refused to let go of my hand.
"Daddy..."
"I'm scared."
I kissed her forehead.
"I know."
"But you're safe now."
When we reached the second floor, the first thing I noticed was the broken bedroom door.
The lock had been splintered from the outside.
I froze.
"That wasn't there before I left."
One of the crime scene technicians photographed the damaged frame.
Another officer examined the floor.
"There are drag marks."
The words hit me like a hammer.
"Drag marks?"
He pointed toward faint scratches leading from the bedroom into the hallway.
"As if something heavy had been moved."
Or...
Someone.
Inside the room, everything looked strangely organized.
Too organized.
The bed had been perfectly made.
Clara hated making the bed before breakfast.
Her favorite novel rested neatly on the nightstand.
Even the curtains were tied back evenly.
It looked less like a lived-in room...
And more like a stage.
Detective Collins slowly opened Clara's wardrobe.
Half her clothes were gone.
"Where are the rest?" he asked.
"I don't know."
"She packed nothing before I left."
Then Lily tugged at my sleeve.
"Daddy."
She pointed toward the dresser.
"Mommy hid something."
The officers carefully moved the heavy wooden cabinet.
Behind it...
A small section of wallpaper had been cut open.
Inside the wall cavity lay a tiny metal box.
Every person in the room held their breath.
The detective carefully opened it.
Inside were three items.
A USB flash drive.
A folded envelope with my name written across it.
And Clara's wedding ring.
My heart pounded.
"That's impossible."
"She never took off her ring."
Collins handed me the envelope.
"Read it."
My fingers shook as I unfolded the paper.
Alex,
If you're reading this...
Something has happened to me.
Please don't believe anyone who says I chose this.
I would never leave Lily.
Never.
I've discovered something I was never supposed to know.
Someone at your company has been stealing millions through fake construction contracts.
I accidentally found the documents because Derek asked me to print something from his laptop.
When he realized what I'd seen...
Everything changed.
He kept asking questions.
He searched my phone twice.
He even threatened me.
But
